Senior police figures are pushing back against politicians they accuse of stoking tensions over the murder of teenager Henry Nowak. Ch Insp Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association, warned that false claims of anti-white bias could drive policing back to the 1960s.
The warning comes amid growing concerns that politicians such as Nigel Farage are making baseless and provocative claims about the incident. Farage had asserted that the handcuffing of Nowak by officers in Southampton last December amounted to two-tier policing and a bias against white people, and called for 'cold rage' in response.
Keir Starmer accused the Reform UK leader of ignoring the wishes of Nowak's family, who condemned the 'inhumane and degrading' treatment but said they did not want his death to create further division. Hampshire's chief constable, Alexis Boon, apologised for the way Nowak was arrested and handcuffed.
Sir Andy Cooke, former chief inspector of constabulary, said he found no evidence of anti-white bias during his time scrutinising all forces in England and Wales. He accused politicians like Farage of trying to 'exploit' the case 'to boost their political fortunes' and worsen community tensions.
The incident is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Meanwhile, police chiefs have ordered a nationwide increase in intelligence gathering about potential violence linked to far-right protests, after 11 officers were injured in clashes in Southampton on Tuesday.
